Weymouth Town Council candidate proud to be a communist

It’s no secret: Dominic Giannone III is a communist. The 37-year-old union boilermaker is the only one of the five candidates running for the District 1 town council seat to highlight his political affiliation. Local elected offices are non-partisan, and generally party politics don’t make much of an appearance.

By Christian Schiavone

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Christian Schiavone

Posted Aug. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 28, 2013 at 7:01 PM

By Christian Schiavone

Posted Aug. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 28, 2013 at 7:01 PM

WEYMOUTH

» Social News

It’s no secret: Dominic Giannone III is a communist.

The 37-year-old union boilermaker is the only one of the five candidates running for the District 1 town council seat to highlight his political affiliation. Local elected offices are non-partisan, and generally party politics don’t make much of an appearance.

But Giannone, who noted his membership in the Communist Party USA on his campaign website, said he included it partly as a matter of full disclosure to voters and partly because it’s a central part of his beliefs.

“My communist ideas shape who I am and what I believe,” he said. “The shorthand I like to use is democratizing the economy to meet the needs of working people.”

The Sept. 17 preliminary election ballot in Weymouth also includes two registered Republicans – Becky Haugh and Victor Pap III – and two registered Democrats – Kevin Harris and Angel Montanez – according to the town clerk’s office. Pap, a former District 1 councilor, has announced that he is not campaigning for the seat because of health concerns, but his announcement came too late for removal of his name from the ballot.

The District 1 seat represents North Weymouth. Councilor Frank Burke, who represents the area now, is not running.

Giannone is a registered member of the Green-Rainbow Party but considers himself a member of the Communist Party USA.

The Communist Party USA advocates “radical reforms” to the capitalist system, including nationalization of banks, railroads and some industries, and guaranteed employment, according to its website. The party opposes violence.

On a local level, Giannone said he supports a local ordinance to make it harder for banks to foreclose on homeowners. He said he is also investigating whether the council could force big-box stores like Wal-Mart to pay workers higher wages.

Giannone was arrested in 1999 for disorderly conduct and trespassing during a protest at Weymouth High School on behalf of convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal. At the time, Giannone told a Patriot Ledger reporter that he supported “overthrow of our government through revolution.”

“My politics have matured since then,” he said Tuesday. “The principles are still there, but tactically, I’d say I’ve grown up a lot.”

Giannone said he still supports revolutionary change but opposes inciting violence.

He was also arrested and charged with assault and battery on a public official during a fracas at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. He said he was acquitted of that charge.

Haugh and Harris said they have no problem with Giannone highlighting his party membership, though they’re not making party affiliation part of their campaigns.

“It helps frame his political views,” Harris, a biotech and pharmaceutical consultant, said. “Those are his views and he’s entitled to them. I think it’s great.”

Page 2 of 2 - Haugh, 33, an account clerk at a Pembroke-based educational collaborative and past president of the North Weymouth Civic Association, said party labels are “irrelevant” since the race is non-partisan.

Montanez, 54, a retired Merchant Marine captain, said he had no comment.

The preliminary election will decide which two candidates go on to compete in the general election Nov. 5. The general election will also have races for at-large town council seats and the school committee.